ALBANY —One of the events currently set to acknowledge the impact of breast cancer in Southwest Georgia is a fun run, walk and BMX race set for Oct. 12 at Chehaw.

“Race for the Cure of Breast Cancer,” to be hosted by the Chehaw and Chehaw BMX, will be held beginning at 8 a.m. at the park on Oct. 12 to benefit breast cancer patients in Southwest Georgia.

This event comes during a year in which the American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in women, with about 64,640 new cases of carcinoma in situ — the earliest form of breast cancer.

Meanwhile, there are about 39,620 women expected to die from breast cancer, the ACS says.

“I’ve been following this disease for 25 years,” said Dr. Tibor Gyorfi, an Albany pathologist and coordinator of the event. “In the mid-80s, this was a surgical disease. There have been advances made in chemotherapy, but they are typically only palliative — meaning they will increase survival.

“(Breast cancer patients) need a lot of support. There is a lot of attention that is paid to it.”

The entry fee will be $10, which does not include the required admission to Chehaw. Gates will open for registration the day of the event at 6:30 a.m. at the park’s concession stand. Registration will run until 8 a.m., the scheduled start time for the 1.25-mile run on the park’s road loop adjacent to the Creekside Education Center. The 2.5-mile run on the road loop will start at 8:05 a.m., followed by a 1.25-mile walk on the loop beginning at 8:10 a.m.

At 10 a.m., there will be a BMX bicycle race at the nearby Chehaw BMX track. Meanwhile, there will be stations set up for children’s activities — and there will be a BMX bicycle up for raffle during the 10 a.m. race.

The hope is to be able to turn this into an annual event, Gyorfi said, as a way to promote healing, therapy and awareness of early detection.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is not something we should (acknowledge) just one month out of the year, but this is a good time to remember,” he said. “We are also thinking of those who lost their lives, but trying to stay positive.”

Gyorfi said there will also be a tent to offer health screenings for high blood pressure, blood glucose finger sticks for diabetes and a hemoglobin finger stick for anemia. There will be specimen collection kits for the fecal immunochemical detection of blood to test for colorectal carcinoma, which will be made available to the first 50 participants on a first come, first serve basis. Screening kits and reagents will be provided by Albany Area Primary Health Care.

Everyone who registers will get a pink bracelet, and the first 100 to register will get a cap with a pink ribbon on it. Proceeds for the event will go to the Carlton Breast Health Center, Gyorfi said.

Those seeking more information on the event or wishing to register ahead of time can contact Albany Pathology Associates by calling (229) 439-7170 or visiting 1007 W. First Ave., or can find the event on www.active.com. Those registering are encouraged to be prepared to pay the entry fee using cash or check.